ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONGRATULATES OBAMA-BIDEN VICTORY

armradio.am
05.11.2008 11:07

"Change" – it has been the driving theme of the 2008 Presidential
election with both candidates promising to change how things are done
in Washington.

Across the board on issues important to Armenian-Americans and their
friends, Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Joseph Biden Jr. (D-DE)
in their rhetoric and their records represented positive change,
bringing the United States back in line with the historic principles
that made our country great and the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) congratulates them on a hard fought election victory.

Several key issues to the Armenian-American community include reversing
the Anti-Evans Doctrine, ending attempts to isolate Armenia, ending
genocide denial, ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights
consistently around the world, and a peaceful and just resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. While Senator John McCain was an
early supporter of self-determination and fundamental freedoms for
the people of Nagorno Karabakh, in recent years he sided with Turkey
and Azerbaijan to oppose reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide and
turned a blind eye to Azerbaijan’s human rights record.

"By all accounts this was an historic election which provides
a tremendous opportunity for all Americans," stated Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The new Administration will have
a far-reaching impact over the next four years. The Assembly looks
forward to the immediate revocation of the Anti-Evans Doctrine, and in
its place ensure that all U.S. diplomatic and foreign policy personnel
are made fully aware of the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide
and are allowed to speak the truth freely," continued Bryan Ardouny.

The Anti-Evans Doctrine was formulated by the Bush Administration
to remove Ambassador John M. Evans after he acknowledged the
Armenian Genocide in 2005. Ambassador Evans’ statement, however, was
consistent with former President Ronald Reagan’s 1981 affirmation of
the Armenian Genocide, as well as George W. Bush’s acknowledgement
by reference to the International Center for Transitional Justice
analysis on the Armenian Genocide. In 2007, the Armenian Assembly
bestowed upon Ambassador Evans the distinguished Henry Morgenthau
Award for Meritorious Public Service. The award, established in 1996,
recognizes those individuals who exemplify the courage embodied by
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to
the Ottoman Empire during the time of the Genocide. Morgenthau was
the first American to alert the world of the Armenian Genocide and
later established the Near East Relief Society to help provide relief
assistance for the survivors.

Ambassador Evans’ remarks were also consistent with President George
W. Bush’s campaign promise, U.S. policy and legal precedents. However,
the Bush Administration removed Evans for his public acknowledgement
of the Armenian Genocide and disallowed State Department officials
from accurately reflecting U.S. policy. Ambassador Evans is currently
working on a much anticipated book regarding his experience.

The Obama-Biden ticket has consistently demonstrated a rejection
of the Bush Administration’s fundamentally flawed policy on this
critical human rights issue. Specifically, during their tenure in the
U.S. Senate and with respect to the removal of U.S. Ambassador John
M. Evans, and the subsequent nominations that ensued, both Senator
Obama and Senator Biden have pressed for affirmation of the Genocide.

Last week Senator Obama stated "Joe Biden and I believe that the
Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a
point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an
overwhelming body of historical evidence." Senator Biden as Chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee not only cosponsored S.Res. 106,
the Armenian Genocide resolution, but also spearheaded legislation,
S.Res. 65, honoring the legacy of Hrant Dink and calling for the repeal
of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which punishes discussion
of the Armenian Genocide. Senator Biden has a career long commitment
of integrity on Armenian issues.

Over the course of the U.S. Presidential race, Turks and Azeris
panicked over the prospect of the election. A senior foreign
official issued a warning to both campaigns that the U.S.-Turkey
partnership would end if they supported affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide. Turkey has bluffed before and other countries have called
Turkey’s bluff. Given Senator Obama’s and Senator Biden’s strong
record with respect to affirmation of the Armenian Genocide Given,
Turkey should heed calls to come to terms with its genocidal legacy.

The Assembly also expressed the expectation that the Bush "Anti-Evans
Doctrine," which penalized the mere acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide by U.S. diplomats will be summarily revoked. In a separate
letter to the Bush Administration, the Assembly specifically requested
that the Bush Administration revoke this fundamentally flawed policy
prior to the inauguration of the next President, and called on the
Administration to instead embrace former President Ronald Reagan’s
policy of Genocide affirmation. This Administration, as Reagan’s did,
can avoid the annual exercise of congressional consideration of a
genocide resolution by simply using their constitutional powers to
reaffirm U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide.